Green group pleads for cuttlefish taskforce funds

Funding is still to be approved for a proposed taskforce to investigate a decline in cuttlefish numbers in upper Spencer Gulf.

The number of Giant Australian Cuttlefish aggregating off Point Lowly to mate has fallen in recent years.

The chief executive of the Conservation Council of South Australia, Tim Kelly, says the Whyalla City Council is backing the idea of a taskforce.

However, he says funding from other agencies and the State Government is needed to get it started.

"We're currently looking at seed funding to get the project off the ground," he said.

"We believe that if we can get seed funding to bring people together, to look at what needs to be done, developing a recovery plan and all the actions that are required, we can attract other funding and other broader support."

Mr Kelly says it is already known that giant cuttlefish numbers are in decline and a plan needs to be in place as soon as possible.

"We just won't get another opportunity," he said.

"These animals live for only one to two years, so if you have successive years of failure they're not able to reproduce for the following years and that population decimation can be completed in a very short period of time."

The Environment Department says a meeting will be held soon to discuss what to do.